Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Slo-pez...


We put the scoots on the ferry for some inter-island riding on Lopez Island.

First stop after leaving the motorhome: the grocery store.  We picked up breakfast sandwiches and fruit; we'll do breakfast on the ferry, since this route makes two stops before getting to Lopez.  No galley service on the inter-island ferry.

Loading up the bikes after the grocery run...


The ferry to the mainland hadn't left when we arrived at the ferry landing...


Parked the scoots yes, at the front of the line...


The ferry to the mainland shoved off...


And the inter-island ferry arrived...


First ones on the ferry...


 This guy is already decorated for Independence Day...


 Is that dog driving the car??


No, he knows that the guy directing cars on the ferry has a treat for him...



We went up to the passenger deck and settled in...


Foggy as we left Friday Harbor...



By the time we left the Shaw Island Ferry Terminal, the fog was dissipating...


Pulling up to the Lopez landing...


And, we're off...


A bit about Lopez Island: yes, some people call it "Slo-Pez"... the pace here is much slower than San Juan Island or Orcas.  Some people call it "the friendly island" - about 2,000 year round residents, so people tend to know each other; and drivers wave at other drivers, whether they know them or not.  It's a thing: "the Lopez wave."

The riding here is different from San Juan or Orcas Island, as well: not as many curves and hills.  Only one road where the speed limit is 45 mph, slower everywhere else.  It is more like riding a pleasant lane through the countryside...



First off the road stop: Spencer Spit State Park...


The island really has a rural feel to it...






That is the Port Stanley School... notice the two "little buildings" out back?



Did that street sign say what I thought it said???



Umm... no.  It reminds me of the young man we photographed back in the day whose name was Clint; he wanted a type font that was all capitals for his name on wallet photos... no, that's not gonna work, especially as things kinda blend together with type that small.  But, again I digress.

The Lopez Island School District sign...


"Read"... that's a good goal.

As we rode further south, the fog started coming back (or, rather, we caught up with it)...


At the south end of the island, we rode in and out of the fog...







I thought San Juan Island had a lot of bicyclists - since this island is a bit less hilly, it seems to be even more popular with the pedaling crowd...



Fastest mailbox I've seen in a while...


I read a scientific report that said adding flames to anything makes it faster.  I know it is true - I read it on the internet.

Coming into the Fisherman's Bay area...


If you look close, there is a bicyclist in the lane way ahead of Joan.  Well, he was behind us as we started down that hill... the speed limit is 25 mph there... he blew by us on the right side, hollering, "On your right!  On your right!"  Getting passed on the right, on the shoulder of the road - it makes me homesick for Texas.  ;-)

I had to stop to get this photo - look at the fog moving over the land in the distance...


The fog put a chill in the air, so we stopped in Lopez Village for something to warm us up: some kind of latte' thing for Joan, hot chocolate for me...



Yeah... everybody uses the side door.  ;-)

More Lopez Village...



When it was time to head for the ferry, Lopez Village is only a few miles away.  As usual, those on bikes (motorcycles and scooters) go to the front of the line...


We thought we were cutting the time close, but Joan pulled up the Washington State Ferry app and saw that this ferry was running a few minutes behind schedule...


It was a direct ferry back to Friday Harbor, still time to relax on the passenger deck...


At Friday Harbor, the mainland ferry was behind schedule, too; we wound up at the second landing, having to wait for the other ferry to move out...



Back in time for Izzy's supper; ours, too.